Services

The firm provides a variety of legal services relating to intellectual property issues including:

Trademark Counseling, Clearance and Litigation - TM

The firm counsels clients on all issues trademark owners confront in the course of their business.  The first step in our counseling process is to quickly become familiar with the client’s business, its goals and place in the market.  Doing so enables us to provide concrete, client-specific advice on trademark and brand protection.

At the clearance stage of the trademark process, our attorneys evaluate the availability of marks for adoption and use, analyze search reports, discuss potential registrability issues and provide written clearance opinions.

After evaluating the availability of a trademark or service mark, the firm provides each client with practical advice regarding the adoption of the prospective mark.  This may include the filing of a trademark application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, evaluating whether protection should be obtained abroad and advising as to the best way to obtain that protection.  The firm further advises clients on all potential enforcement and litigation issues that may arise.
 

Trademark Prosecution AND REGISTRATION-®

The firm is well versed in preparing and prosecuting trademark and service mark applications for marks in fields and International Classes.  Mr. Schiffrin and Ms. Longo have extensive knowledge of the practices and procedures of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and have successfully obtained federal trademark registration for hundreds of marks throughout the course of their careers.  Additionally, in his capacity as a former Trademark Examining Attorney with the USPTO, Mr. Schiffrin has reviewed thousands of trademark applications, giving him great insight into the inner workings of the USPTO examination process. 

In addition to drafting and filing applications for registration, the firm will take all actions necessary to achieve registration, such as responding to USPTO refusals and requirements and preparing all required documentation.
 

Copyright -©

The firm assists clients with the protection of intellectual property rights in original works of authorship in all forms of media.  These services include preparing copyright applications, counseling clients regarding protection in registered and unregistered works, enforcing valid copyrights against alleged infringements and defending the fair use of copyrighted works.
 

Internet Issues – Domain Names Disputes and Infringement in Cyberspace

The firm counsels clients on a vast array of issues involving the Internet.  These include the registration of domain names, posting of gripe sites, and use of another’s intellectual property on the web and in virtual worlds. 

The firm represents both intellectual property owners and those accused of using another’s intellectual property unlawfully on the web.  For intellectual property holders, the firm provides personalized domain name registration strategies so that they may obtain cost effective protection for their rights against potential cybersquatters.

When conflicts arise in cyberspace, the firm utilizes all available avenues to successfully the resolve the dispute.  The firm as been successful in using “take down” provisions, cease and desist letters, arbitration under the Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy of ICANN and federal district court litigation to quickly and effectively resolve conflicts on the Internet.
 

Licenses and Agreements – Non-Disclosure, Coexistence, Royalties

Negotiated agreements are highly beneficial to both parties in an intellectual property setting and may prevent costly litigation.  To that end, the firm negotiates, drafts, evaluates and enforces forward thinking agreements covering the full range of trademark and copyright issues.  Key provisions of these agreements include coexistence, licensing, royalty payments, the nature and scope of use and non-disclosure of trade secrets.